You do n’t have to drop a fortune to make your kitchen cabinets look good as new . Try these easy , affordable upgrades .

Updating your kitchen can cost a quite a little of money — and it ’s unlikely you will recoup 100 % of the costs of a major remodel . Doing minor kitchen rise , however , can yield higher returns and cost less overall .

accord to the 2021Cost vs. Valuereport from Remodeling , a minor kitchen remodel that include upgrade such as replacing the front of your cabinet doors and drawers with new wood panels has an return on investing ( ROI ) of 72 % . While the total cost of a minor kitchen remodel is costly ( about $ 26,200 ) , refresh your cabinets can give your intact kitchen a lift — for a fraction of the cost .

Kitchen with wooden floors and gray cabinets

Credit: Panichgul Studios, Inc

" Not only do you achieve a raw style , but it is also a more affordable option when refurbish the kitchen , " enunciate Adam Graham , diligence psychoanalyst at recast siteFixr . " Kitchen console design has a vast impact on the overall style of the space — by maintain them up to day of the month and on - trend , the whole room is given a lift . "

Plus , all your cabinet might need is an overall pinch - up , not a full replacement — which can be a lot more money and prison term . " update , upgrading , or refinishing your locker is a great option if you have a special budget and ca n’t open to put back them , " says Andra DelMonico , conduct upcountry designer at home excogitation siteTrendey . " If you care the layout of your kitchen and the frame-up of your console , then why commute them ? Just improve their looking . "

Here are some budget - friendly way to upgrade your kitchen cabinets that will have them search fresh , without the hefty price tag .

1. Paint your cabinets.

A fresh coat of key can go a long path . " Your braggart supporter to refresh your kitchen cabinets on a budget is paint , " say Joey Olsen , proprietor of kitchen design companyThe Kitchen Guru . " A well - calibre paint and some human elbow dirt are all you need to give your cabinets a lift . "

According to Olsen , painting kitchen locker yourself costs between $ 250 to $ 500 for paint and material for a small to medium kitchen . If you engage someone to do it , it could be around $ 2,000 to $ 6,000 . Another choice to consider is cabinet paint kit , such as from Rust - Oleum . " They have all - in - one kit for sale at Lowes and The Home Depot that make it easier than ever , " says Olsen .

If you are planning on going the DIY road , ensure you do the preparation make thoroughly . The majority of the cost of hiring someone to paint choke into the preparation work . " design to do the extensive preparation work yourself or the raw paint wo n’t look professional or last , " advise DelMonico .

2. Strip paint from wood cabinets.

Another option that costs even less than paint your locker is to unclothe and sandpaper them . According to Fixr , strip and sanding cabinets costs between $ 1 to $ 8 per square foot , while painting them costs about $ 3 to $ 12 .

" Stripping and sandpaper down kitchen cabinets can get them back to their original state , " enounce explains Graham . " It will give them a newfangled look and is especially worthwhile if the cabinets are made from an aesthetic material such as solid wood . "

DelMonico intimate summate starched paper fabric to the cabinet doorway for a bohemian smell . " If you have Shaker , kick upstairs , or inset doors then work with the architectural design of the door to know where to commit the textile , " she say .

3. Get rid of the doors entirely.

You could also remove the doors on your kitchen cabinets for a new look that is affordable to achieve . " To give your kitchen a farmhouse feel , you could remove the doors completely and interchange them with material curtain , " says DelMonico .

She suggests tot starched fabric , paint , or peel - and - stick wallpaper to the back wall inside the cabinet . " take a darker design and paint your cabinets white to keep your kitchen finger smart and big , " tot DelMonico . instead , DelMonico paint a picture tot up a metal dialog box with a stamped design over your cabinet threshold .

Upgrading the door on your cabinets is a more affordable path to upgrade cabinets and give them a new look — after all , the door are what you see most in a kitchen .